THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT JOSEPH MAXWELL HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL ON A PERMANENT LOAN FROM VICTORIA BARRACKS, SYDNEY
19 August 2003


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Lieutenant Joseph Maxwell,
18th Bn ( NSW ) AIF

  • Victoria Cross
  • Military Cross ( MC ) & Bar
  • Distinguished Conduct Medal ( DCM )
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )

A decision has recently been made by the Army Museum of New South Wales at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, to present the Victoria Cross, other gallantry awards, and campaign medals, awarded to Lieutenant Joe Maxwell, to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The basis of the presentation is a permanent loan.

Attending the handing over ceremony was Joseph Maxwell's daughter, Jean Willitt, pictured here with the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 6 January 1919 ]. Beaurevoir-Fonsomme Line, near Estrées, France, 3 October 1918, Lieutenant Joseph Maxwell, 18th Bn ( New South Wales ), Australian Imperial Forces.

For most conspicuous bravery and leadership in attack on the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme line near Estrées, north of St. Quentin, on the 3rd October 1918.

His company commander was severely wounded early in the advance, and Lieutenant Maxwell at once took charge. The enemy wire when reached under intense fire was found to be exceptionally strong and closely supported by machine-guns, whereupon Lieutenant Maxwell pushed forward single-handed through the wire and captured the most dangerous gun, killing three and capturing four enemy. He thus enabled his company to penetrate the wire and reach the objective.

Later, he again pushed forward and silenced, single-handed, a gun which was holding up a flank company. Subsequently, when with two men only he attempted to capture a strong party of the enemy, he handled a most involved situation very skilfully, and it was owing to his resource that he and his comrades escaped. Throughout the day Lieutenant Maxwell set a high example of personal bravery, coupled with excellent judgement and quick decision.

Joseph Maxwell was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 8th March 1919.

Lieutenant Joe Maxwell died on 6th July 1967 at his home in Matraville, New South Wales. He was cremated at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney, and his ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance.

Award of the DCM ( Distinguished Conduct Medal ), 25 September 1917. Third Battle of Ypres. The 18th Battalion, AIF, arrived in France late in March 1916 and by October Joe Maxwell had been promoted to sergeant. On 7th August 1917 he was again promoted to warrant officer class II and became company sergeant-major.

"He took command of a platoon whose officer had been killed, and led it in the attack. An hour later he noticed that one of the newly-captured positions was under heavy enemy fire. Maxwell dashed to it and led the men out to a safer, yet tactically equal, position - an action which undoubtedly saved many lives."

Award of the MC ( Military Cross ), March 1918. Four days after being awarded the DCM, on 29th September, Maxwell's appointment as 2nd Lieutenant was gazetted and on New Year's Day 1918 he was promoted Lieutenant. Maxwell was in charge of a scouting patrol east of Ploegsteert.

"Having obtained the required information he ordered the patrol to withdraw. With three others he formed a covering party for the main body as they returned to their lines. Then, about sixty yards away, Maxwell spotted a party of about thirty Germans. He at once recalled the patrol, reorganised them for an attack and led a charge on the Germans, who were sheltering in an old trench. Maxwell and his patrol attacked the trench with rifles and bombs forcing the enemy to quickly withdraw leaving three dead and one wounded."

Award of a Bar to the MC ( Military Cross ). Just as zero hour approached for the great final offensive, the 18th Bn was drawn up for an attack near Rainecourt, east of Amiens. A hail of machine-gun and artillery fire swept over the jumping-off position and Maxwell found that he was the only officer in his company who was not a casualty.

"Under his leadership, the company got away on time, still under heavy fire. They were preceded by a tank, when a German 77 mm shell scored a direct hit on it, and the tank stopped. Maxwell immediately leapt to the tank's hatch, opened it and allowed the crew to escape. Shortly afterwards the tank burst into flames and blew up. Maxwell assisted the tank commander back for some distance then returned, pressed on with the attack, and succeeded in reaching and consolidating the objective.

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Iain Stewart, 19 August 2003